in this issue:
hot button issues: CONGRESS AND STEM CELLS / EMILIO / JUDIE BROWN’S BOOK / NATIONAL PRO-LIFE T-SHIRT DAY
abortion: SOUTH DAKOTA
activism: FATHER WESLIN
catholic bishops: DEWANE
catholic colleges: DETROIT
morning-after abortion pill: CONNECTICUT / WAL-MART
ru-486: TENNESSEE
stem cell research: FLORIDA
reminders: BISHOPS PETITION / DAY OF THE PREBORN / ULTRASOUND VIDEO
reflection for prayer: PSALM 33:4-5
hot button issues
CONGRESS AND STEM CELLS: American Life League cautions that neither of the congressional proposals dealing with human embryonic stem cell research will offer suitable protection for embryonic human beings whose lives are threatened in the name of science.
(Reading: “Embryonic stem cell sham looms in Senate,” American Life League, 4/10/07)
EMILIO: The fight to save 17-month-old Emilio Gonzales continues in Texas. A judge has set an April 19 deadline for both sides to present evidence. The hospital where the child is being cared for says any additional treatment would be futile, and Emilio should be allowed to die as permitted under state law. His mother disputes that diagnosis and is battling to keep her son alive. ALL’s Amber Dolle comments on yet another challenge facing pro-life interests.
(Reading: “Circumventing patients’ rights and hastening death,” American Life League, 4/12/07)
JUDIE BROWN’S BOOK: Of Saving Those Damned Catholics, former Congressman Bob Dornan writes, “With wit, insight and fearless presentation of the facts, Saving Those Damned Catholics shreds the ‘seamless garment’ most Catholic Bishops use to cloak their sinfully silent consent to legalized abortion. Saving Those Damned Catholics will inspire you with the fortitude and the will to tackle this eternally urgent mission.”
TO ORDER: “Saving Those Damned Catholics” is available from ALL in hardcover or paperback. Call 866-LET-LIVE or purchase online.
NATIONAL PRO-LIFE T-SHIRT DAY: April 24 is the date for ALL’s fifth annual National Pro-life T-shirt Day. The day provides an opportunity for all pro-life people, especially students, to make a public stand on behalf of preborn children.
TO ORDER: A limited number of official National Pro-life T-shirt Day shirts are available for $6 plus shipping and handling. Call 866-LET-LIVE. Additional information about participating in the event is available online.
abortion
SOUTH DAKOTA: The full 8th circuit federal appeals court has heard a case involving Planned Parenthood’s challenge of South Dakota’s informed consent law. The law states that a mother seeking an abortion must be told that abortion ends a human life.
(Reading: “Appeals court hears case considered a first in abortion litigation,” American Family News Network, 4/11/07)
activism
FATHER WESLIN: A Nebraska jury has found Father Norman Weslin not guilty of charges that he violated the federal FACE Act when he knelt in prayer just inside the front door of abortionist Leroy Carhart’s facility. Father Weslin is the founder of the Lambs of Christ.
(Reading: “Catholic priest found not guilty of blocking access to abortion clinic,” Life Site News, 4/10/07)
catholic bishops
DEWANE: Planned Parenthood’s request to usea county bond program to build a new facility in Sarasota, Florida has drawn the ire of Bishop Frank Dewane of the Diocese of Venice. The bishop says if the request is approved, the county will in effect be paying for an abortion clinic.
(Reading: “Bishop riled by bond request,” Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 4/10/07)
catholic colleges
DETROIT: The president of the Jesuit-operated University of Detroit Mercy has agreed to meet with pro-lifers who are questioning the school’s apparent endorsement of two pro-abortion organizations. The school’s web site links to both Planned Parenthood and NARAL.
(Reading: “U.S. Catholic university promoting Planned Parenthood will meet with pro-life advocates,” Life Site News, 4/10/07)
morning-after abortion pill
CONNECTICUT: A measure described as a compromise is being offered in the state legislature. It would permit third-party providers to offer rape victims so-called emergency contraception at Catholic hospitals. The hospitals, which cite church teaching in opposing the drugs, have not commented on the proposal.
(Reading: “‘Plan B’ compromise in the works,” New Haven Register, 4/11/07)
WAL-MART: The retail giant has told Planned Parenthood it has changed its policies and will now stock Plan B.
(Reading: “Wal-Mart changes birth control policy,” Associated Press, 4/6/07)
ru-486
TENNESSEE: Legislators are debating a proposal that would require doctors to inform mothers of the risks of RU-486 abortions. “We have a serious drug, a drug that’s killing women in some circumstances when it’s not used properly,” said the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Jack Johnson (R-Franklin).
(Reading: “Senate considers new regulations for abortion drug,” Associated Press, 4/10/07)
stem cell research
FLORIDA: State legislators want to prohibit any taxpayer-funded experimentation on human embryos, which several representatives described as unethical. Lawmakers also want to earmark $20 million for study of stem cells from other sources. “We need to focus our money on what we know is working, not for research that’s not going to show results,” said House sponsor Anitere Flores (R-Miami).
(Reading: “Lawmakers move toward ban on embryo cell study,” Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 4/11/07)
reminders
BISHOPS PETITION: An American Life League petition asks Catholic bishops to address the scandal caused by political figures who claim the Catholic faith but support abortion. Church law states that those “who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to communion.”
ACTION: All Catholics are invited to sign the petition that will be delivered to U.S. bishops in June.
DAY OF THE PREBORN: American Life League has begun a petition to President Bush, asking him to follow the example set in nine Latin American countries and establish March 25, 2008 as the Day of the Preborn in the United States.
ACTION: Please sign the petition online.
ULTRASOUND VIDEO: “Baby Steps: Live from the womb, 16 stages of pre-birth development,” is an amazing new video from American Life League that many in the pregnancy center movement say is certain to save lives. The video features dramatic 4-D ultrasound images of preborn babies from 8 to 34 weeks development.
TO ORDER: The “Baby Steps” DVD is available from ALL for $9.95 plus shipping and handling. Call 866-LET-LIVE toll-free, or purchase online.
reflection for prayer
PSALM 33:4-5: The Lord’s word is true; all his works are trustworthy. The Lord loves justice and right and fills the earth with goodness.